June 7, 2018; revised June 8, 2018; September 13, 2018; August 30, 2020
1. Pathama Metta Sutta (AN 4.125) clearly states the difference between jhānā cultivated by Noble Persons (Ariyās) and those who are merely on the mundane path (assutavā puthujjano). Here assutavā puthujjano means one who has not comprehended Tilakkhana; one MUST have removed the ten types of micchā diṭṭhi even to cultivate anāriya jhāna.
- Since jhānic states represent the same rupavacara realms, the jhānic experience could be the same for both Ariya and anāriya jhāna (I am not sure).
- However, the critical difference is that Noble Persons (who have cultivated jhāna) NEVER come back to kāma lōka and attain Parinibbāna, while the anāriyās come back to kāma lōka and could be born in the apāyā too.
- That is because the Ariyās have REMOVED kāma rāga (ucceda pahāna), while anāriyās have only SUPPRESSED them (vikkhambana pahāna).
2. The Brahma Vihāra in Buddha Dhamma are four types: mettā (loving-kindness), karunā (compassion, the opposite of karunā is anger), muditā (empathetic joy), and upekkhā (equanimity towards all beings).
- The four realms correspond to the four highest-intensity rupāvacara jhāna levels (in sutta categorization of jhāna).
- We can clearly see the concept of gati; most translators do not even know what that word means.
- Instead of translating the sutta word-by-word, I have just provided the meaning of each verse.
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Notes:
1. The four jhānic states attained by an Ariya discussed in this sutta are from anāriya jhāna. Therefore, they are jhānic states attained specifically by a Sōtapanna, by SUPPRESSING kāma rāga. If a Sōtapanna attained even the first Ariya jhāna, then he/she would be born not in those four realms but in the realms reserved for those who attained the Anāgami phala (realms #23 through #27; see "31 Realms of Existence".
2. Note that by cultivating mettā, karunā, mudutā, and upekkhā bhāvanā, one is born in Brahmakāyika, Abhassara, Subhakinha, and Vehappala Brahma realms with lifetimes of 1, 8, 64, and 500 kappā.
3. For more information on jhānā, see "Samādhi, Jhāna (Dhyāna), Magga Phala" and "Power of the Human Mind."
4. Information on 31 realms comes from suttā like this one. I have corrected the lifetimes of these four rupavacara realms in the post "31 Realms of Existence".